Enoch was translated
that he should not see death. Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.
Yet the Bible reveals they are not in heaven today! Where are they? Here
Ďs the astounding truth.

Part
One

Where Is Enoch?

ENOCH WAS "translated." Where did he go?
Was he immediately taken to heaven? No! Because Jesus Himself said: "No
man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven,
even the Son of man" (John 3:13). Here are Jesusí own words that no man,
except Himself, had
ascended into heaven!

And how did He know? Why, He came from there!

Then where is Enoch? Letís see what the Bible says.

Enoch Walked With God

At the age of 65
Enoch had a son named Methuselah. "And Enoch walked with God
after he begat Methuselah three hundred years, and he begat sons and daughters"
(Gen. 5:22).

Here was a man that pleased God, a man that walked with God.

Enoch had to have faith, for in Hebrews 11:6 the apostle said, "But
without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God
must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently
seek him." So Enoch walked with God. He obeyed God, and followed Him in
His paths by faith.

No one can walk with God unless he is in agreement with the will of
God and doing it. Amos the prophet said:

"Can two walk together, except they be agreed?" (Amos 3:3.) So in his
generation Enoch was the only recorded person who followed the ways of
God ó even though it took
him sixty-five years to learn to walk with God!

But how long did Enoch walk with God? The scripture says that he "walked
with God after he begat Methuselah three hundred years." So Enoch followed
Godís ways for three hundred years. Notice that Moses did not record that
Enoch is still walking with God. The scripture says that Enoch walked with
God for three hundred years and not one year more! Then Enoch is not still
walking with God! Why?

Because "all the days of Enoch were three hundred sixty and five years"
(Gen. 5:23). All the days of Enoch were three hundred and sixty-five
years. Not just part of his days, but all his days! If Enoch did not die
ó if he were changed to
immortality ó and thus continued
to walk with God, then his days would have been more than three hundred
and sixty-five years. But the Bible plainly says that all his days were
just that many, and no more!

This expression "all his days" is used in the same fifth chapter of
Genesis about a dozen times and always it means that the person lived for
that length of time only "and he died." So Enoch lived no more than three
hundred and sixty-five years because "all the days of Enoch were
three hundred and sixty-five years." As he lived only for this length of
time then he must have died!

But what about his translation? Does that mean he didnít die?

Thatís what some people carelessly assume without proof.

What Really Happened atEnochís Translation

Remember, Moses didnít write that Enoch did not die. Rather Moses wrote
that "Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him" (Gen. 5:24).
Paul records the same event by saying that he "was not found, because God
had translated him" (Heb. 11:5).

Thus the scripture records that Enoch was not found because God took
him, or "translated" him. The Bible does not say that Enoch went to
heaven when he was translated. Instead it says he was not found.

Certainly Enoch was "translated," but what does
the word "translate" mean?

The original Greek word for "translate" is metatithemi. According
to Arndt Gingrichís Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament, 1969
edition, the primary meaning is to "convey to another place. .
. transfer" (p.514).

This same Greek word is rendered "carried over" in Acts 7:16. Here we
read that after Jacob died his body was "carried over";transported; translated; to Sychem where he was
buried! Thatís what your Bible says! Jacob was transported or translated
to the place of burial!

That is why Moses said that God took Enoch. God removed ó
translated ó him
so that he was not found. God took Enoch and buried him!

In Deuteronomy 34:6 we read also how God took Moses from the people
after which he died and was buried by God. "But no man knoweth his sepulchre
unto this day." God removed Moses!God
translated him, and he was
not found either!

So Enoch was not made immortal after all! He was taken away and was
not found. All his days were three hundred and sixty-five! Thatís as long
as Enoch lived.

Notice another proof that "translate" does not mean to make immortal.
It is found in Colossians 1:13: the Father "hath delivered us from the
power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his
dear Son." Here the Bible says that Christians are already translated óbut
Christians still die! We are not immortal bodies, but mortal flesh and
blood. Although we were once part of the darkness of this world, now we
are translated, removed from darkness into the light of the Kingdom of
God.

Didnít Receive the Promise

Enoch is included by Paul (in Hebrews 11) among the fathers who obtained
a good report through faith; but "these all, having obtained a good
report through faith, received not the promise" (Heb. 11:39). What
promise? The "hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised
before the world began" (Titus 1:2).

So Enoch therefore is one of "these all" who have not yet obtained the
promise of eternal life and inheritance. Enoch and all the worthies of
old will receive the promise of eternal life at the return of Christ, the
same time Christians obtain it (Heb. 11:40). That is yet future!

Since Enoch has not yet inherited eternal life he must be dead! This
is exactly what Paul writes in Hebrews 11:13. Paul says Enoch died! Notice
it. "These all died in faith, not having received the promises."
Who were these "all"?

Paul tells us: Abel, Enoch, Noah, and the patriarchs and their
wives. Hebrews 11:1-12 lists those who had faith and Enoch is included
among them. Then in verse 13 Paul proved that they had not inherited the
promises by saying:

"These all [including Enoch] died in faith."

But what about Paulís saying that Enoch "should not see death"?

Which Death Did Enoch Escape?

Enoch lived only three hundred sixty-five years. Then what could Paul
possibly have meant by saying: "By faith Enoch was translated that he should
not see death; and was not found because God had translated him"? This
verse nowhere says that Enoch did not die. Rather, it says that Enoch "should
not see death." But what does it mean?

Remember, there is more than one death mentioned in the Bible. There
is a first death, and there is a second death (Rev. 20:6). Which death
did Paul mean?

The first death is appointed unto men (Heb. 9:27). That death cannot
be humanly evaded. It is inevitable. That death Enoch died, as we have
already proved.

But Paul was not writing about that death. The phrase "should not see"
is in the conditional tense of the verb, having reference to a future event.
It is not in the past tense, that he "did not see" death ó
but that he "should not see death." So this death that Enoch
escaped by being translated is one that he can escape in the future on
certain conditions!

Did Jesus ever speak of a death that might be escaped? He certainly
did! In John 8:51 Jesus

said, "Verily, verily, I say unto you, If a man keep my saying, he shall
never see death" ó shall
never see ó that is, suffer
ó the second death! And
again in John 11:26, "Whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never
die" ó or "shall not die
forever."

This death is one that can be escaped on condition that men keep the
saying of Jesus and believe Him. This death is not the first death, because
Christians who keep Jesusí sayings die this first death. Then the death
which Enoch should escape must be the second death which will never
touch those who are in the first resurrection (Rev. 20:6). And Enoch will
be in the first resurrection because he met the conditions!

Enoch had faith. He believed God and walked with God, obeying Him. In
keeping the sayings of God, Enoch kept the sayings of Jesus too; because
Jesus did not speak of Himself, but spoke what the Father commanded Him
(John 14:10).

Thus Enoch met the conditions so that he should not see death. The second
death shall never touch Enoch, because of his faith and obedience.

Two Translations

Now we can understand Hebrews 11:5: "By faith Enoch was translated that
he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated
him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased
God."

This verse plainly mentions two translations.

Examining this verse fact by fact, we notice that Enoch had faith and
was translated. This translation óremoval,
transference ó was on condition
of faith. Now what translation mentioned in the Bible is on condition of
faith? Why, the one we read about in Colossians 1:13. The Father "hath
delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the
kingdom of his dear Son."

This is a figurative translation ó
a figurative removal or transference from the spiritual darkness
of this world to the light of the family or Kingdom of God and Christ.
In verse 10 Paul shows that to abide in this Kingdom we must "walk worthy
of the Lord unto all pleasing." This is exactly what Enoch did. He walked
with God, and pleased God.

(THIS IS AN INSET)

Is
David in Heaven?

If heaven
be the reward of the saved, where the righteous go immediately at death,
we should certainly expect David, of all people, to be in heaven. God called
David, king of Israel, "a man after mine own heart" (Acts 13:22). Further,
in Acts 7:46 we are told that David "found favor before God." Yet the Apostle
Peter, in the first sermon of the New Testament Church, was inspired to
say: "Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David,
that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre is with us unto
this day" (Acts 2:29).Peter then added: "For David is NOT
ascended into the heavens" (verse 34). Plainly,
David is dead and buried, in his grave, and not in heaven! Godís
Word says so!

In Hebrews 11:32, David is included
among those who died in faith. Now turn to verse 39 of this same chapter:
"And these all [and that includes David], having obtained a good
report through faith, received not the promise: God having provided some
better thing for us, that they [including David and all the worthies of
old] with out us should not be made perfect."

Davidís resurrection is spoken
of in Jeremiah 30:9: "But they [Israel] shall serve the Lord their God,
and David their king, whom I will RAISE UP." Notice
the time setting of this event is yet future. Ezekiel adds;"And my servant David shall be their prince
for ever" (Ezek. 37:35). This is the time ó
still to occur ó when
David will receive eternal inheritance in Godís Kingdom.

Furthermore, David could not possibly
be in heaven. Jesus said, over 1 000 years after David had died, "No
man hath ascended up to heaven . . ." (John
3:13). Jesus had been in heaven. He knew!

David himself knew and described what
hap pens to man at death. He wrote: "His breath goeth forth, he returneth
to his earth; in that very day his thoughts perish" (Psalm 146:4). There
is no knowledge or consciousness in the grave (Ecclesiastes 9:5, 6, 10).
The dead, Scripture says, await a resurrection (I Thess. 4:15-1 7; I Cor.
15:50-52; Dan. 12:2).

How plain! David is dead and buried,
awaiting the resurrection with all of Godís saints. At that time he will
receive the promises. To find out what these promises are (youíll be surprised
to find they do not include heaven at all!), be sure to request our free
booklet What Is the Reward of the Saved?

END OF INSET

Then Enoch, the same as Christians, was delivered from the power of sin
and darkness in which he had been living for sixty-five years. He was removed
(translated) from the ways of the world- and lived three hundred years
according to Godís ways so that he might inherit eternal life at Christís
return, and should not suffer the second death.

By faith Enoch was separated ó removed
or translated ó from the
world, the same as Christians who are not to be a part of the world, although
living in the world.

Not only was Enoch figuratively taken from the society of his day, but
he was also literally removed ótranslated
ó so that he was not found.

God took him physically away from the people, just as He later
took Moses. And God buried each so well that neither has ever been found
since!

A Premature Death

We have already read that "all the days of Enoch were three hundred
sixty and five years" (Gen. 5:23). Now look at the entire fifth chapter
of Genesis. The shortest life span described, aside from Enochís, is the
seven hundred and seventy-seven years lifetime of Lamech. The longest is
Methuselahís nine hundred and sixty-nine. But Enoch lived only three hundred
and sixty-five. Why?

Clearly Enoch died a premature death! He did not complete his normal
life cycle. He was cut off, as it were, in the midst of his days.

But what happened? Does the Bible give us any clue?

Lamech’s Boast

Lamech, a descendant of Cain (not the same person listed in the
genealogy of Genesis 5), boasted to his two wives: "I have slain a man
to my wounding, and a young man to my hurt. If Cain be avenged sevenfold,
truly Lamech seventy and sevenfold" (Gen. 4:23-24). The "man" was Cain. Hence Lamechís reference to the fact that God would take vengeance
on anyone who dared to murder Cain. But who was the "young man"?

Enoch at age three hundred and sixty-five would certainly be considered
a young man by his generation.

Enoch walked with God. Furthermore, he prophesied of the coming
of Christ to execute judgment and to convict the ungodly (Jude 14-15).
He was in effect a "preacher of righteousness" (compare II Peter 2:5).

But Godís message has never been popular. As a servant of God, Enoch
undoubtedly convicted and enraged many by his message. His life was in
danger. Finally that ungodly generation tolerated Enochís preaching no
longer. By comparing Lamechís saying with the age of Enoch at his death,
we may deduce from Scripture that Lamech (by himself or with a mob) stilled
Enochís voice by murder.

Donít think this strange or unusual. Hebrew tradition reveals that Noah,
the great grandson of Enoch, had to flee for his life in order to carry
out the Work of God.

"But Noah was very uneasy at what they [the pre Flood world] did; and
being displeased at their conduct, persuaded [urged] them to change their
dispositions and their acts for the better: but seeing they did not yield
to him, but were slaves to their wicked pleasures, he was afraid they would
kill him, together with his wife and children, and those they had married;
so he departed out of the land" (Josephus, Antiquities of the Jews,
book I, chapter 3, section 1, Whiston translation).

God allowed Enoch to be martyred. But He would not permit his body to
be desecrated or publicly displayed. God physically removed his body, very
likely in the sight of his murderers before they could defile it. Otherwise how would anyone have
known that God had taken him?

A Sign from God

God gave this sign of physical removal as a type for all those who should
later follow Enochís example of faith. He was taken physically from the
people just as Christians are to be spiritually removed from the
ways of this world. The physical translation or carrying away of Enoch
was also a sign from God that his faith had been accepted óGod
often gives signs (Isaiah 38:7).

The question may arise, why did God allow His righteous servant Enoch
to die? The Bible contains ó if
you have eyes to see ó a
chronicle or obituary of the death of the prophets and apostles of God
throughout history. Many of the greatest men of the Bible were martyred.

God is concerned with oneís physical welfare. But He is more concerned
with oneís spiritual state and oneís eternal life. Enoch had to be willing
to die for the truth he preached. This
little understood principle is explained in our free booklet After
Death ó Then What?
Write for your free copy.

Like every true saint, Enoch is awaiting the hope of the resurrection
and the return of Jesus Christ, the Messiah (Jude 14, 15).

Did ElijahGo to Heaven?

YOU HAVE been told that Elijah went to heaven. Yet
over 900 years after Elijah was taken up by a whirlwind Jesus Himself said:
"No man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven,
even the Son of man" (John 3:13).

Is this a Bible contradiction? Did Elijah really ascend to the heaven
where Godís throne is ó even
though Jesus said he didnít?

If Elijah is not in heaven today, then where did Elijah go?

Which Heaven?

There are three heavens mentioned in the Bible, not just one! And if, as
Jesus said, no man, which included Elijah, had ever ascended to the heaven
where He came from, then the heaven into which Elijah was taken was a different
heaven!

Which one was it?

The third heaven is the heaven of Godís throne, where Jesus is today.
Jesus, being the High Priest of God, is the only one who has the right
to be in that heaven with the Father.

Notice why! Hebrews 8:1-5 explains that the original earthly tabernacle
under the Old Covenant, with its most holy place, or compartment, was the
type of the throne of God in heaven. Only the high priest ó
type of Christ as High Priest now ó
was allowed to enter!

The second heaven represents the expanse of this great universe ó
the space where we find the sun, moon, stars, comets and
planets. How often do we find the Psalmist admiring the "heavens, the work
of thy fingers, the moon, and the stars, which thou hast ordained" (Psalm
8:3; see also Genesis 1:15-17).

Beside the heaven of the stars, we find that the atmosphere, the air
that surrounds this world, is also called heaven. Birds fly "in the midst
of heaven" ó certainly not
Godís throne in heaven ó for
we read in Genesis 1:20 of "fowl that may fly above the earth in
the open firmament of heaven." In blessing Jacob, Isaac said, "God give
thee of the dew of heaven," and Moses joyed that the "heavens shall drop
down dew" (see Gen. 27:28 and Deut. 33:28).

This first heaven, from which dew comes, means the atmosphere, where
the clouds and the wind roam. Every one of us is right now breathing the
air of heaven!

Since Elijah could not have gone to the heaven of Godís throne, then
to which heaven did he go? For the scripture reads:"And Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven" (II Kings
2:1, 11).

The answer ought already to be quite obvious! Elijah "went up by a whirlwind
into heaven" ó not to
the heaven of Godís throne, but into this earthís atmosphere, the first
heaven.

There could be no whirlwind in any other place but in the atmosphere
surrounding this earth ó in
the first heaven, in which the birds fly. You certainly have seen the great
lifting power of a whirlwind, havenít you?

Why Taken Up?

What was the reason for this unusual act of God? Why did He take Elijah
up into the atmosphere? Was it to make him immortal? No! The Scripture
says no word about that! The ancient prophets ó
including Elijah ódid
not receive any promise of immortality prior to or apart from us. Notice
it in Hebrews 11:32 and 39: "These all, having obtained a good report
through faith, received not the promise"! And we shall not receive it until
Christ returns (Heb. 11:40).

So Elijah was not to be made immortal ó
for that would give him pre-eminence above Jesus. But what
does the Bible reveal as the reason for his removal? II Kings 2:3 and 5
has the answer.

Notice now what the sons of the prophets said to Elisha: "Knowest thou
that the Lord will take away thy master from thy head today?" Or as the
Smith and Good-speed translation has it, "Do you know that today the Lord
is about to take away your master from being your leader?" Christ is the
head of the Church today as Elijah was the head or leader of the sons or
disciples of the prophets in that day. God had sent Elijah as His prophet
to wicked king Ahab and to his son Ahaziah. Now God wanted Elisha to direct
His work, as Ahaziah the king had died (II Kings 1:17-18) and a new king
was ruling.

So what did God do?

He could not allow Elijah to be among the people with Elisha directing
the work now. That would have been the same as disqualifying him! Since
God never takes an office from a man when that man has been performing
his duty well, the only thing God could do would be to remove Elijah so
that another could fulfill the office.

This God did. When he was taken up, Elijahís mantle dropped from him
and Elisha picked it up. See II Kings 2:12-15.

And what did the "mantle" mean?

In Clarkeís Commentary we note that it was "worn by prophets
and priests as the simple insignia of their office" (vol. 2, page 484).

The purpose of God in removing Elijah was to replace him with another
man who would occupy Elijahís office in Israel for another generation.
This work had to start under a new king, for Ahaziah had just died. And
Elijah was already aging. So as not to disqualify Elijah in the sight of
the people, God took him away from the sons of the prophets and the people,
allowing the mantle, which signified the office of Elijah to drop into
the hands of Elisha. Thus God preserved the name and office of His prophet.

How Taken Up?

Having crossed Jordan near Jericho, Elijah was taken up by a whirlwind
in what appeared to be a chariot and horses of fire. The violent motion
of the wind pulled the mantle off the prophet as he was seen to ascend
into the sky. You probably remember reading the promise of Elijah that
Elisha would have a double portion of the Spirit of God if he would be
allowed by God to see Elijah taken up (II Kings 2:9). All this meant that
Elisha was to be the leader, the new head of the sons of the prophets.

Having ascended into the air, Elijah was borne away out of the sight
of the new leader ó beyond
the horizon. Butó Where Did Elijah Go?This has been the perplexing problem to so many!

He did not ascend to the throne of God. Jesus said so! Yet he couldnít
remain in the air forever.

And God did not say that Elijah was to die at that time. If he were,
Elisha could have assumed his new office without the removal of Elijah,
for we know that Elisha died in office after fulfilling his duty (II Kings
13:14).

The sons of the prophets who knew that their master was to be removed
also knew that Elijah was not to die then. That is why they were fearful
that the Spirit of God might have allowed him to drop "upon some mountain,
or into some valley" (II Kings 2:16). Elisha knew that God would preserve
Elijah from falling, but at their insistence he permitted men to go in
search for him ó to no avail.

Elijah was gone!

And where to? Certainly the whirlwind used by God could not take him
beyond the earthís atmosphere. Neither does the Bible account leave Elijah
in the air!

The Answer Unfolds

Immediately before Elijah disappeared into the distance a new king had
come to the throne in Israel (compare II Kings 1:17 with 3:1). The new
kingís name was Jehoram, or Joram as this name is sometimes spelled. He
was another son of Ahab. The first year of Jehoramís reign was 893-892
B.C. During Jehoramís reign Elisha was the recognized prophet of God (II
Kings 3:11). Meanwhile, in Judah, the son of Jehoshaphat began to reign
as co-regent along with his father (II Kings 8:16). This king, who began
to reign in the fifth year of Jehoram, king of Israel (889-888 B.C.), was
also named Jehoram. He had been associated with his father on the throne
for five previous years (894-889 B.C.) but without the full authority of
a co regent (II Kings 1:17).

Jehoram, of Judah, reigned as co-regent four years (889-885 B.C.) with
his father Jehoshaphat (II Kings 8:16).

Jehoshaphat died in the year 885 B.C. This was about the eighth year
since Elijah had disappeared (remember, he had disappeared almost immediately
after Jehoram of Israel took the throne in 893 B.C.). When Jehoshaphat
was dead, his son Jehoram, now Ďsole king of Judah, slew his brothers and
some of the princes to further secure the throne (II Chron. 21:1-4).

The year after the death of Jehoshaphat, Edom revolted from Judahís
king Jehoram (II Kings 8:20-24 and II Chron. 21:8-10). After that brief
war, Jehoram of Judah set about to build high places and introduce pagan
customs (II Chron. 21:11). He followed the ways of the nations about him
and did evil in Godís sight.

About ten years had now expired since Elijah was taken from the people.
But what do you think was about to happen?

A Letter Comes From Elijah!

Yes, after this wicked rule by the Jewish king, God chose Elijah to write
a letter and have it sent to the king!

The contents of the letter are found in II Chronicles 21:12-15. In part
it reads: "Because thou hast not walked in the ways of thy father but hast
walked in the way of the kings of Israel and also hast slain thy brethren
of thy fatherís house, which were better than thyself, thou shalt have
great sickness by disease."

From the wording of the letter, it is clear that Elijah wrote it after
these events had occurred, for he speaks of them as past events, and
of the disease as future. Two years after the king became diseased, the
king died óhaving reigned
only eight short years (II Chron. 21:18-20).

This proves that the letter was written about ten years after Elijah
had been taken to another location by the whirlwind.

God used Elijah to convey the message because he was the prophet of
God in the days of the present kingís father ó
and the son was not going in the ways of his obedient father,
Jehoshaphat.

The letter he had others deliver was recognized as hisó
proving that he was known to be alive someplace. Just how
much longer he lived, the Bible does not reveal. But in that "it is appointed
unto men once to die" ó Elijah
must have died somewhat later. See Hebrews 9:27. All human beings born
of Adam, and that includes Elijah, must die ó
for we read: "In Adam all die" (I Cor. 15:22). Elijah was
a man "subject to like passions as we are" (James 5:17) ó
subject to human nature and death! Elijah the prophet, being
mortal flesh as we are, died. He is certainly one of the "prophets" (Heb.
11:32) who died in faith not yet having received the promise (verses 13
and 39).

To suppose that God gave him the power of an endless life of nearly
three thousand years already is to read into the Bible what is not there!
He was mortal, subject to death, and after being lifted into the atmospheric
heavens, spent the remaining years of his life at some unidentified location
on the earth, living as every human being, before he naturally died.

Was Elijah on the Mount?

Now what about the appearance of Moses and Elijah on the Mount of Transfiguration
with Jesus? The record of the event is found in Matthew 17:1-9; Mark 9:2-10;
Luke 9:28-36.

Leaving the mountain, Jesus told his disciples: "Tell the vision
to no man" (Matt. 17:9). A vision is not a material reality but a supernatural
picture observed by the eyes.

Moses died, and was buried (Deut. 34:5-6). Both he and Elijah were still
dead in their graves, but in vision both they and Jesus were seen in the
glory of the resurrection ó an
event to which Moses and Elijah have not yet attained (Heb. 11:39). The
vision was granted the disciples after Jesus had spoken of the glory of
immortality in the coming Kingdom.

An Elijah to Come

The only remaining text that may have puzzled people is Malachi 4:5-6.
"Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great
and dreadful day of the Lord: and he shall turn the heart of the fathers
to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I
come and smite the earth with a curse."

This little-understood prophecy refers to the time immediately before
Godís intervention in human affairs, prophetically called "the Day of the
Lord."

Jesus spoke about this prophecy in Matthew 17. He showed that the work
of John the Baptist was a preliminary fulfillment of Malachiís prophecy:
"And his disciples asked him, saying, Why then say the scribes that Elias
[Elijah] must first come? And Jesus answered and said unto them, Elias
truly shall first come, and restore all things. But I say unto you, that
Elias is come already, and they knew him not, but have done unto him whatsoever
they listed [whatever suited them]. Likewise shall also the Son of man
suffer of them." Then the disciples understood that he spake unto them
of John the Baptist" (verses 10- 13).

Luke was also inspired to write about the work of John: "And he [John]
shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts
of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the
just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord" (Luke 1:17).

Luke said John was "in the spirit and power
of Elijah," NOT that he WAS literally
Elijah. That Elijah had died centuries before. But, John the Baptist was
empowered by the same spirit, which had guided the Elijah of old to point
Israelís eyes to the true God, and for much the same purpose.

An Elijah is yet to come, however, said Christ ó
after John was already dead. So just as John the Baptist
was the forerunner of Jesus Christ at his first coming, another is to come
before the great and terrible Day of the Lord, as a forerunner of Jesus
Christ at his second coming. He, like John, will come in the spirit and
power of Elijah to fulfill the commission of Malachi 4:5, 6 "lest I come,"
says God, "and smite the earth with a curse."

The world of Christís day did not recognize John as coming in the power
and spirit of Elijah. And neither will the world today recognize the one
whom God sends in the spirit and power of Elijah shortly before the terrible
Day of the Lord, when the Jesus Christ of your New Testament will intervene
in world affairs to set up the government óKingdom
ó of God on earth.

How plain the Bible is! Elijah is dead in the dust of the earth awaiting
the resurrection of the just. Elijah, some years after being removed in
the whirlwind, went to the grave, but will rise again to live forevermore!